Service Above Self since 1915

Southeastern North Carolina's oldest, largest and finest civic organization

Background: The Wilmington Rotary Club was founded in 1915, the 150th club in the Rotary movement. It is the parent (or grandparent) to numerous other Rotary clubs in eastern North Carolina. The Wilmington club is one of six in Wilmington, and is part of Rotary District 7730. The club celebrated its centennial in 2015. For details, go to Club History page.

Meetings: The club meets for lunch starting at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Coastline Conference Center, 501 Nutt St. in downtown Wilmington. For information about programs and other club events, go to Club Calendar page.

Donations: The club has a tax-exempt Section 501 (c)(3) foundation, The Rotary Club of Downtown Wilmington Foundation, to which deductible contributions may be made. This foundation pays for our service projects, both locally and internationally, in collaboration with The Rotary Foundation, the Rotary movement's international financial arm. To learn more, or to donate, got to RCDW Foundation page.

Projects: Current activities include the Legacy Project, a partnership with Wilmington’s Williston Middle School; assistance for adult literacy tutoring through the Cape Fear Literacy Council; child literacy through the Williston Middle School and six of New Hanover County’s public schools; a water supply system for the village of Coomacka, Guyana, in partnership with the Georgetown, Guyana Rotary Club and several other Wilmington-area clubs; assistance to the Rotary Cottage at the N.C. Boys and Girls Homes at Lake Waccamaw; support for the Rotary Wheel Garden at Wilmington’s Greenfield Park; and funding for KIVA Microfunds, which makes small loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries. For details, go to Our Projects page.

Rotary's six areas of focus

The club's service priorities are based on part on Rotary International's six areas of focus. They are:

Peace and conflict prevention/resolution.

Disease prevention and treatment.

Water and sanitation.

Maternal and child health.

Basic education and literacy.

Economic and community development.

Membership: a choice for fellowship and service

The Wilmington Rotary Club is looking for accomplished business and professional people, of all ages and backgrounds, to become part of our community of service.

We are a service organization, but we are also a social group. For many of our members, the Wilmington Rotary Club is a large extended family. Rotarians represent a wide range of professions, and our members include many of Southeastern North Carolina's most influential leaders. That makes the club useful as a source of professional contacts.

The chief qualifications for becoming a Rotarian are recommendations from club members, a history of involvement with community, volunteer or service organizations, and adherence to Rotary's ethical standards. (See The Four-Way Test.) Joining Rotary doesn't involve any elaborate initiation process. We have no secret handshakes or high-signs, no hazing rituals or ceremonial regalia, as can be seen in the following historical video. We will, however, as in this 1931 "Betty Boop" cartoon, ask you the essential question for any prospective Rotarian: "Wanna be a member?"

Wanna be a member?

This cartoon is from the Fleischer Brothers studio, which brought us not only Betty Boop, but Popeye the Sailor, Felix the Cat, and other iconic characters. We offer it in the spirit of our club's informal watchword: "Is it fun?"

For a serious look at how to become a member, go to the Membership page.